'The Amazing Race' Recap: 'Head Down and Hold On (Australia)'

[The Amazing Race - Season 18 Episode 1]

Finally in HD, The Amazing Race started its race in Palm Springs, California, emphasizing their wind generators. Eleven teams of returning contestants are:

Jet & Cord - Cut off at the airport
Margie & Luke - Final puzzle meltdown
Amanda & Kris - First U-Turn victims
Flight Time & Big Easy - Didn't know who Kafka was
Mel & Mike - Wandered off course and were eliminated
Kent & Vyxin - Self-destructed
Gary & Mallory - Lost in Oman
Kisha & Jen - Pee break elimination
Zev & Justin - Lost passport
Ron & Christina - Yet another final puzzle victim
Jamie & Cara - Taxi drama queens

As all the teams arrived, Phil welcomed them and reminded the teams that the winners of the first leg get the Express Pass, introduced last season. Phil pointed out that there are no clues on the bag, but instead Phil has the clue. He announces that in a sea of paper airplanes, the teams have to find the answer to Phil's clue. The first eight teams would get on the earliest flight, while the remaining three teams would get on the second flight, 90 minutes later. The big twist was that the last team would have an automatic U-Turn and will be forced to do both Detours in whichever leg had the first Detour. Of course, we have our shameless advertising from Ford Focus as the teams drive to LAX.

Phil's Clue: Queensland & Northern Territories Aerial Services (Correct Answer: QANTAS)

Phil screams go and all the teams stumbled their way through the sea of answers. Some teams picked Queensland Pacific and Queens Express. Ron & Christina realized that after their first guess of Pan Am (They don't even exist anymore!) it's QANTAS. Mel & Mike were the first to get the correct answer, but were quickly followed by Zev & Justin, and Jet & Cord. Their clue told them to head to Sydney, Australia.

After the new credits, we listened to Christina screaming to her father, "QANTAS!" Probably, not the best strategy since several teams were around them. Kent & Vyxin got to Phil with the correct answer and were followed by Christina & Ron, Flight Time & Big Easy, and Margie & Luke. Jamie & Cara were the last team to make it on flight one.

Kisha & Jen were the first on the second flight and were just happy that they wouldn't have a penalty. Amanda & Kris had no clue and were making random guesses and screaming at each other. Gary & Mallory resorted to prayer. After the commercial, the final two teams realized that it's QANTAS. Gary & Mallory got to Phil tenth and leave a bit happier that they didn't have extra pressure on them. Amanda & Kris ironically got U-Turned yet again, this time without any spite. They realized that they were being really stupid.

The first flight teams are all smiles as they left the airport, tragic foreshadowing of course. Gary & Mallory, Jen & Kisha, and Amanda & Kris left second expecting to work hard to not be eliminated. En route to Australia, a man had a heart attack on the first flight and the plane had to do an emergency stop at Honolulu, HI. They use the stop to gas up their plane. They leave with the man successfully surviving the heart attack, but flight two got ahead of the other teams. Phil explained that the teams would take a train to Sydney Harbor then look for Oceanworld. Kisha & Jen, Amanda & Kris, and Gary & Mallory arrived and made it to the first available train together. Mallory explained to Kisha & Jen that a flight attendant said that Flight 12 didn’t arrive yet. They joke around and were in high spirits. The three teams smiled and enjoyed the boat ride.

At 10:47am, the "first" flight arrived. With a little bit of shuffling, most of the teams get on the trains except for Ron & Christina, Mel & Mike, and Jet & Cord. The "second flight teams" arrived at the Roadblock clue which explained that they had to "Get Tanked" which meant that one contestant had to swim with sharks, while looking for a compass. They would then leave the tank and find flags to decipher a puzzle using the compass. Kisha & Jen recalled their water/swimming issues and joke about how they reinforce the stereotype of African-Americans and their lack of swimming skills. Gary was excited for his daughter, hoping that she was meticulous, but laughing at the fact that his daughter could get eaten. Just the right balance between parenting and comedy. Kisha noted her fear of deep water and sharks. Amanda was nudged by a shark early on but wasn't fazed.

Kent & Vyxin and several teams make the next available boat ride. Back at the tanks, Gary spotted a compass and Mallory grabbed it and showed the cameras her eyes filled with fear. Amanda got her compass and headed out as well.

Ron & Christina, and Mel & Mike got tickets to the boat while Jet & Cord looked for directions. Ron & Christina called Mel & Mike over to the correct docks. Jet & Cord could only watch as the boat left the port. By the time they finally got on a boat, Mallory was already starting the puzzle section. She decided to go methodically with the first flag. Amanda & Kris arrived at the puzzle as the middle pack teams went inside the tank. Kisha finally got a compass as Flight Time, Margie, and Justin made it inside.

Kent compared Vyxin to a mermaid as Christina and Mel entered the tank. Gary & Mallory finished the puzzle first and got decent directions from locals. Kisha started her puzzle as Justin, Margie, and Flight Time found their compasses. Cara found the compass while Vyxin struggled. Jet & Cord finally arrived but Christina and Mel left the tank as Jet arrived.

Gary & Mallory arrived to the correct man, gave the correct phrase and got a clue to go sailing. Mallory practiced a bit on the ship, but when she was in the water she was emptying out loud screams. Zev & Justin arrived and in a cross between fear and friendship Amanda & Kisha decided to work together. Cara decided to work with Margie reinforcing their relationship that built during their season. Kisha & Jen and Amanda & Kris arrived and gave the correct password and Jen read the extra rule that "you may not swim to the clue" and gave a sigh of relief. Gary showed the viewers that all you had to do was to lean and grab for the clue. Kris got it on the first try; Jen grabs the clue successfully for the two sisters.

Christina, Mel, Jet, and Vyxin finally got their compasses as the front three packs all made their way to "Shelly Beach," the pitstop. Vyxin had the compass, but couldn't breathe deep enough and find the exit. Vyxin decided to use the images of family to push herself out of the stress.

The front three teams made a run for the beach. Amanda & Kris and Gary & Mallory made a run for first, but it was Gary & Mallory who was still holding on to her compass who arrived first. They got the express pass, but Phil gave them a twist: they were still racing. Mallory couldn’t stop talking and Phil pushed her off to continue racing. Amanda & Kris were second and got their clue and they were followed by Kisha & Jen.

After a bit of time, Zev & Justin arrived fourth. Margie & Luke and Jamie & Cara's working together turned out that they did a horrible job translating the flags. Flight Time & Big Easy had no clue what the answer was and Zev & Justin gave them the answer. They whisper the answer while Margie & Luke attempted to listen in. They couldn't hear the answer and start running back. They pass Zev & Justin but the two didn't help; they explained that they barely knew the people. While Zev & Justin did a good job with the sailboat, Flight Time & Big Easy had to go through some issues with their size. Zev & Justin got two clues but we were under the assumption that it didn't penalize them at all.

Christina & Mel finish the puzzle and head towards the correct area. They bumped into Margie & Luke and Jamie & Cara and decided that they would work with each other since Margie knew the directions. Vyxin only got part of the clue and headed out. Christina & Ron, Mel & Mike, Jamie & Cara, and Margie & Luke got the clues after Christina's help. Kent & Vyxin found Margie & Luke and they gave the correct answer. Margie & Luke thought it would be nice to have a "weaker" team that they could beat still around.

On the boat, Jamie & Cara flip over their boat but stayed calm. The trained sail men flip the boat over. The other three teams did a good job grabbing their clues but Jamie & Cara were first to get their clue. Obviously, one of the two screamed at the professional when he sat on her foot.

Zev & Justin and Flight Time & Big Easy run to the pit stop as Kent & Vyxin finally solved the puzzle. Jet continued to solve the puzzle as Zev & Justin and Flight Time & Big easy arrived at the pitstop. To continue emphasizing the stress that Jet was under, Jamie & Cara, Margie & Luke, Ron & Christina, Mel & Mike all check in and got the clue with Jet still working on the puzzle. Kent & Vyxin got the sailboat clue as Jet & Cord ran and got the wrong answer yet again. Kent & Vyxin were tenth, but their spirits rose as they had to keep running. Jet was lost and had no clue what the puzzle was.

As of Leg 1 Part 1

Roadblocks: Mallory, Amanda, Kisha, Cara, Vyxin, Flight Time, Margie, Justin, Christina, Mel, Jet

False Pit Stop placements:
1) Gary & Mallory
2) Amanda & Kris
3) Kisha & Jen
4) Zev & Justin
5) Flight Time & Big Easy
6) Jamie & Cara
7) Margie & Luke
8) Ron & Christina
9) Mel & Mike
10) Kent & Vyxin

Still at Roadblock:
11) Jet & Cord

It seems like a no brainer that none of the teams would help Jet & Cord. If it weren't for the seasonal connection between Zev & Justin and Flight Time & Big Easy, I doubt that people would have helped Flight Time & Big Easy as well. These teams know what they are doing and having alpha males near the end. Gary & Mallory were still probably on game mode since they were racing just a few months ago, while they didn't figure out QANTAS quickly; they recovered quickly and Mallory was one the few that solved the whole puzzle by herself.

Next Week: As the rest of the teams continue racing, Jet is still confused. Ron returns to angry Asian father, while Mel returns to running the race with an injury.